haley



(No Model.)

WITNESSES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. S- HALEY.

FRUIT DRYING SOAFFOLD.

Patented Feb. 28,1882.

INVENTOR ma ATTORNEYS.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. HALEY, OF COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE.

FRUIT-DRYINGSCAFFOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,306, dated February 28, 1882. Application filed July 28, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SMITH HALEY, of Columbia, in the county of Maury and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fruit-Drying Scaflolds, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a sectional side elevation of my improvement. Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is a plan view of the same, the cover being shown raised and in section through the line 00 m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a perspective view of the same shown as arranged for use. Fig. 4 is an elevation in perspective of the post with its slots and cross-pins. Fig. 5 is a'perspective view, in' elevation, of the detachable block on which the ridge-pole is supported. Fig. 6 is an end view with the gable end of the roof removed so as to show the position of the ridge-pole and supporting-block in the slot of post.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to facilitate the operation of sun-drying fruit.

The invention consists in a fruit-dryin g scaffold constructed with a post provided with stops and a slotted upper end, aseries of shelves pivoted to the post, a bar hinged to the slotted upper ehd of the post, a roof attached to the hinged bar, an adjusting-rope, and aseparate bearing-block, whereby the cover can be raised into an erect position and lowered to protect the shelves, and can be adjusted at a greater or less distance from the shelves, as will be hereinafter fully described.

In the drawings, A represents a post of suitable height and size, the lower end of which is set in the ground, or is attached to a base of sufficient length and breadth to give a firm and stable support to the said post A and its attachments.

B are the shelves, four (more or less) of which can be used, and which can be made of any desired or convenient length and breadth. In one end of each shelf B is formed a hole to receive and fit upon the post A. The shelves B are supported at the desired height by horizontally-projecting pins 0 or other suitable stops, attached to the post A below the lowest shelf 13.

prevent the outer ends of the said sh elves from sagging. The boards D also keep the shelves B at such a distance apart that the fruit upon each lower shelf will not be disturbed by the shelf above it. The shelves B are kept from rising upon the post A by horizontal pins E or other stops attached to the said postAabove the upper shelf.

In the upper end of the post A are formed two longitudinal slots, F G, which intersect each other at rightangles. In the slot F, which does not extend quite to the upper end of the post A, is inserted a pin, H, which also passes through a hole in the arm orlug I, inserted in the upper end of the slot Gr, and formed upon or attached to the bar or ridge-pole J, that supports the roof or cover K.-

The roof K can be made of boards, as shown in the drawings, or it can be made of a frame covered with canvas or other suitable material. The latter construction makes the cover orroofKlighterandmoreeasilyhandled. One of the gable ends L of the roof K is stationary, and the other is made in two parts, M M, the upper part, M, being stationary, and the lower part, M, hinged to it, so that the said lower part, M, can swing outward to allow the roof to be turned up into a. vertical position, as shown in Fig. 2. The roof K can be firmly attached to the ridge-pole or bar J, or it can be placed upon the ridge-pole loose. In the latter case an arm, N, should be attached to or formed upon the upper edge of the bar or ridge-pole J, to pass through a hole in the roof K to keep the said roof in place. To the upper end of the arm N is attached a cap, 0, to cover the hole in the roof K, through which the arm N passes, and prevent rain from passin g through the said hole around the said arm.

To the roofK at or near the ridge, or to the upper part of the stationary gable L, is attached the end of a rope, P, which passes along the ridge of the roof K, and through a notch or keeper formed in or attached to the edge of the roof at itsv other end, and extends down into such a position that it can be conveniently reached and operated by an attendant to raise the roofK into an upright position,

as shown in Fig. 2, and lower it into a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1. The roof K can be held in an upright position by securing the end of the rope P to a pin, Q, attached to the lower part of the post A. The roof K can be adjusted farther from the shelves by inserting in the slot G a plate or block, R, of such a thickness as to fit into the said slot beneath the end of the arm I.

The lower end of the arm I is rounded, and the upper end of the plate R is concaved, as

shown in Fig.1,so that the said ends will work freely upon each other.

In using the scaffold the shelves B are swung into different positions, as shown in Fig. 2, and-- the fruit to be dried is spread upon them, so that the fruit will be fully exposed to the sun and air. For the same reason the root or cover K can be turned up into a vertical position.

- The fruit is protected from rain by day and from dew and rain at night by swinging the shelvesB together and then lowering the cover K over them, asshown in Fig. 1.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with a roof, K, of a post having the intersecting slots F G, the pin H,

and the ridge-pole having apertured lug I, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a fruit-drier, the combination of the post having slot G, the ridge-pole having slot I, rounded on its lower end, and the block R, concave at its upper end, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a fruit-drying scaffold, the combination, with the post A, provided with slots F G, and the hinged roofJ K, of the separate bearing-blocks R, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the root can be adjusted at a higher elevation, as set forth.

4.. In a fruit-drying scaifold, the combination, with the post A, of the detachable roof K, ridge-pole J, arm N, and cap 0, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a fruit-drying scafi'old, the combination, with the roof K and ridge-pole J, hinged at one end, of the hinging-post, the hinged end M M, and rope P, substantially as shown and described, whereby the root can be tilted or raised into an upright position.

WILLIAM SMITH HALEY.

Witnesses:

W. S. GRAFTON, H. V. HALEY. 

